Submit your application by 25 September 2025. A total of 40 fellowships will be awarded to support excellent postdoctoral researchers who wish to continue their research careers in Spain or Portugal.
Fellowship Modalities
The program includes two independent calls:
1. Junior Leader – Incoming
This call is aimed at researchers of any nationality who are currently based outside Spain and Portugal. It offers 20 fellowships to carry out a research project at a university or research center of excellence in either country.
Requirements:
- Researchers must have spent less than 12 months in Spain or Portugal in the three years prior to the application deadline.
- A PhD degree must have been awarded between 2 and 7 years before the deadline.
- Applicants must not have carried out their PhD at the host institution.
2. Junior Leader – Retaining
This call offers 20 fellowships to researchers who are already conducting research in Spain or Portugal and wish to continue developing their careers at a university or research center in either country.
Requirements:
- Applicants must have been legally residing in Spain or Portugal for more than 12 months in the past three years.
- A PhD degree must have been awarded between 2 and 7 years before the deadline.
Key Information
- Number of fellowships: 40 (20 Incoming + 20 Retaining)
- Duration: 3 years
- Funding: Competitive salary and research support
- Eligibility: Open to researchers of all nationalities with a background in STEM
- Application deadline: 25 September 2025, at 14:00h (Peninsular Spain time)
- Host institutions: Accredited universities and research centers in Spain and Portugal
Why apply at ICMAB?
The Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence and welcomes applicants who wish to conduct cutting-edge research in areas such as materials for energy, electronics, nanotechnology, and sustainable technologies. ICMAB offers an international and interdisciplinary environment, advanced research infrastructure, and strong mentorship and career development programs.
More information and applications
For full details on the application process, eligibility criteria, and evaluation phases, visit the official fellowship page: Postdoctoral Junior Leader Fellowships – la Caixa Foundation
We encourage all interested researchers who meet the requirements and are interested in joining ICMAB to contact us and explore potential hosting opportunities.
Researchers interested in applying with ICMAB as their host institution are encouraged to contact Dolors Grillo, Talent Officer, at
Information session
On 15 July, at 11 am CEST, there will be an online information session in English to clarify all the details about the fellowships. Sign up here.